Description
This Garlic Butter Spaghetti with Cheesy Italian Sausage and Spinach is a flavorful and hearty pasta dish. Tender spaghetti is tossed in a fragrant garlic butter sauce, combined with savory browned Italian sausage and fresh wilted spinach, and topped with melted mozzarella and parmesan cheeses. A perfect weeknight dinner that’s comforting, cheesy, and packed with protein and greens.
Ingredients
Scale
Spaghetti and Cheeses
- 8 oz spaghetti
- 1/2 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
- 1/4 cup grated parmesan cheese
Protein and Vegetables
- 12 oz Italian sausage, sliced
- 3 cups fresh spinach
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
Other Ingredients
- 3 tbsp butter
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- Salt, to taste
- Freshly ground black pepper, to taste
Instructions
- Cook Spaghetti: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the spaghetti and cook according to package instructions until al dente, usually around 8-10 minutes. Drain well and set aside.
- Brown Sausage: Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the sliced Italian sausage and cook, stirring occasionally, until browned and cooked through, about 6-8 minutes.
- Sauté Garlic: Add the minced garlic to the pan with the sausage and cook for 1 minute, stirring constantly, until fragrant but not browned.
- Wilt Spinach: Stir in the fresh spinach and cook until wilted, about 2-3 minutes, stirring frequently to combine evenly with the sausage and garlic.
- Add Butter: Add the butter to the skillet and stir until melted and fully incorporated into the sausage and spinach mixture.
- Toss Pasta: Add the cooked spaghetti to the skillet and toss well to coat all the noodles with the garlic butter sauce and sausage mixture.
- Melt Cheese and Season: Sprinkle the mozzarella cheese over the pasta and allow it to melt slightly from the residual heat. Then, sprinkle parmesan cheese on top and season with salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste. Serve immediately.
Notes
- Adjust the amount of garlic and cheese to your preference for more or less intensity.
- For a spicier dish, opt for hot Italian sausage instead of mild.
- You can substitute fresh spinach with baby kale or arugula for a different flavor.
- Leftovers can be reheated gently on the stovetop or in the microwave, adding a splash of olive oil to keep pasta moist.
Keywords: garlic butter spaghetti, Italian sausage pasta, spinach pasta, cheesy pasta, easy dinner, weeknight meal, Italian sausage recipe, pasta with spinach